Sponsored by Perrier, North America's 50 Best Bars is returning to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on April 23. The 2024 ceremony represents the third edition of North America's 50 Best Bars. And who better to share details about the upcoming ranking than Emma Sleight, Head of Content: Bars & Hotels for World's 50 Best? Emma dropped by the Bar Hacks podcast to talk about the 2024 ceremony, the Voting Academy, special awards, and more. In fact, listeners will get to learn a bit about Emma herself, including her being a sommelier and Associate of Cheese. We're looking forward to this year's l ..read more

It has taken a while but it has finally happened! Michael Tipps, friend of KRG Hospitality and podcast host David Klemt, dropped by Bar Hacks. The two kick this episode off by discussing the 2024 Bar & Restaurant Expo. Both Tipps and KRG Hospitality president Doug Radkey are speaking at this year's show. In fact, they're teaching back to back during a bootcamp on Monday, March 18. After the bootcamp, Tipps is presenting a workshop titled "Elevated Guest Experiences." Tipps also gives his thoughts on the state of the industry and consulting; speaks about creating cool concepts; makes a big ..read more

James Grant, World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2021 and Canada’s 100 Best Bartender of the Year 2022, stops into the Bar Hacks podcast! As the director of mixology at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, James oversees three distinct concepts: CLOCKWORK, REIGN, and The Library Bar. As he explains, this role is quite a step up from bartending at and managing an 18-seat speakeasy in Edmonton, Alberta. On this episode, James talks about his journey through hospitality to his current role; his approach to developing the Fairmont Royal York's cocktail programs; tips for speak ..read more

Happy new year, and welcome to 2024! We wanted to kick off season five of the Bar Hacks podcast with an amazing guest. Host David Klemt had the opportunity to chat with Colin Asare-Appiah, an industry icon he's wanted to talk to for many years. Colin is Bacardí's trade director of multiculture and lifestyle, and the brand's LGBTQIA+ advocate. Not only does he spread the message of diversity, equity, and inclusion, he believes (as does KRG Hospitality and Bar Hacks) that diversity is necessary for our industry to thrive. In this episode you'll learn about Colin's journey through hospitality, wh ..read more

Finian Sedgwick, the COO of BAXUS, calls into the Bar Hacks podcast to talk about this exciting new platform. He also shares the details of another platform within the BAXUS family: BoozApp. BAXUS is a natural progression of Finian's career path in hospitality and luxury spirits and wines. While he started his journey with Jameson, he followed a path that led him to the luxury segments of wine, sparkling wine, and spirits. In particular, Champagne and the house of GH Mumm. Now, he and the BAXUS team are helping people to find and trade wine and spirits via blockchain technology. They even have ..read more

When it comes to curating a beer program, creating a complementary cocktail program, and delivering an incredible beer program, we can't think of anyone better than Anne Becerra. And lucky for us, she stopped by the Bar Hacks podcast! Anne is the first female Certified Cicerone in New York City and has been working in beer for more than a decade. More importantly, however, she's as passionate as she is educated about beer. Anne's also passionate about hospitality, which comes across in this conversation. Truly, she loves hospitality, the beverage world, and how the two pair to make people feel ..read more

There are those who say that, in comparison to cities in Canada and the United States of America, London has been slow to pursue agave spirits. However, KOL Mezcaleria has been changing that at a rapid pace over the past few years. Since opening their doors, KOL Restaurant has found its way onto the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, and Kol Mezcaleria can be found on the World's 50 Best Disovery tool. The upscale Mexican restaurant and bar, co-owned by Chef Santiago Lastra, celebrates Mexican culture and traditions hand in hand with British ingredients. They're also currently participating in ..read more

Just ahead of an incredibly busy but rewarding and exciting trade and consumer gathering of thousands of people, London Cocktail Week co-founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne drop by the Bar Hacks podcast. Unlike most of our guests, Hannah and Siobhan aren't bartenders or bar operators. However, they're every bit as passionate about hospitality and the bar world as the people who have dedicated their professional lives to serving others. On this episode, this dynamic duo discuss the ins and outs of London Cocktail Week, including several innovative initiatives and activations. For exam ..read more

Simone Caporale, an internationally renowned bartender and operator, swings by the Bar Hacks podcast to talk spirits, branding, the guest experience, and operations. Noticing a gap in the industry and seeing a way to lend his expertise to help grow spirits brands, Simone and Luca Missagli founded Cocktail Concierge, a brand-building agency focusing on craft spirits brands. One of the most recent brands Cocktail Concierge has helped introduce to the world is Amaro Santoni. Of course, Simone is also one of forces behind SIPS Drinkery House, number three on the World's 50 Best Bars list, and the ..read more

Ryan Chetiyawardana, also known as Mr. Lyan, returns to the Bar Hacks podcast! Ten years ago, Ryan opened the first bar in what would become the Mr. Lyan empire, White Lyan. This innovative venue set the tone for Ryan and the team's approach to creating bars. On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, Ryan shares details of the ten-year celebrations; what it means to him to have reached the ten-year operator milestone; lessons learned over the course of more than ten years running bars; what people can expect from the re-release of his book Good Things to Drink with Mr Lyan and Friends, now wit ..read more